Veganuary was started in 2014 in an effort to promote and educate on Veganism and the positive impacts it has on our planet. The aim is to live a Vegan lifestyle throughout the month of January, or at least as much as you can.

Including everything from swapping to a Vegan diet to shopping sustainably and buying Vegan friendly products and clothing, Veganuary helps people realise how much more sustainably they could live by making a few changes.

It might seem hard, but really it’s easier than you think, even with children. In 2021, the majority of supermarkets are stocked full of Vegan options, and you can find plenty of organic clothing brands online, including here at Tilly & Jasper.

Here’s our guide to getting the kids into Veganuary this year, whether it’s your first go at it or you’re looking for new ideas.

Veganuary recipes and Vegan children’s food

When it comes to first getting the kids into Vegan food, it’s a great idea to introduce them to Vegan alternatives to meals they already love, as well as foods with similar tastes and ingredients to what they usually eat. 

Some of our favourites include:

Butternut mac

Most kids love mac and cheese, so why not turn it vegan? Swap out the cows milk for soya milk and use a dairy free butter alternative and top with vegan cheese for a tasty midweek meal! Nutritional yeast is another ingredient that can help add a more cheesy flavour too.

Chocolate treats

Vegan brownies are a simple yet delicious snack that kids will love.  The trick here is to use ground flaxseed instead of egg. 

When your children think of the vegan lifestyle, they might simply think of vegetables and eating their greens, so showing them that they can still eat chocolate and other sweet things is important in encouraging them to delve into Veganuary. 

Shepherd’s pie

A family favourite! Why not try a vegan shepherd’s pie? You can swap the mince for a mix of vegetables or why not try some plant based mince, found in plenty of supermarkets these days. Remember to use a dairy free spread when making your mash top too!

Meat substitutes

Ideal for the pickiest of eaters, vegan meat substitutes offer an extremely similar taste and texture to meat. With plenty of brands on offer at the moment  when it comes to meat substitutes, with the likes of nuggets, burgers and other picky-eater favourites that your child will be more than likely to enjoy. There are also a wide variety of other meat substitutes, available in both vegan and vegetarian options.

Pizza

You can’t go wrong with a vegan pizza! Whether you’re making it yourself or cooking one that’s store bought, vegan cheese and veggies such as peppers, mushrooms and sweetcorn make for the ideal pizza toppings and are great for getting the kids involved in cooking. 

Pair with a garlic bread side for a restaurant style dish!

Spaghetti Bolognese 

There’s no need to miss out on a family favourite with vegan spaghetti bolognese! 

There’s also always the option to make a simple pasta with a vegan sauce too, and there are more store-bought vegan sauces than you might think.

 

Living a more sustainable lifestyle

This Veganuary 2021, instead of just switching up your diet, aim to live a more sustainable kind of lifestyle as well.

While it might not be completely vegan, sustainable lifestyle choices have incredible environmental benefits that help your whole family maintain a low carbon footprint.

Clothing

From organic baby clothes to vegan leather shoes, making the switch to sustainable clothing is not only the most ethical solution, but often provides you with the highest quality garments.

Here at Tilly and Jasper, we pride ourselves on offering the highest quality organic children and baby clothes, including a wide variety of brands from Toby Tiger and Frugi to Little Green Radicals.

Teaching children why it’s important

There are many reasons why going vegan and living a more sustainable lifestyle is important, and it’s vital that your children understand why they’re making changes this month.

Here are some of the most important benefits that your kids will appreciate:

• You’ll be helping save animals’ lives
• You’ll be healthier
• You’ll be expanding your options when it comes to eating and meal times
• More people will be able to eat around the world as less crops will be needed for feeding animals

 

The Vegan Society has a lot of information on why to go vegan, as well as lots of other useful information for Veganuary.

 

Browse our full range of organic children’s clothes today at Tilly & Jasper, and kick off Veganuary in style.